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Histories of Northamptonshire
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Iron Age Torc

Iron Age 800 BCE - 43 AD Geologic to Prehistoric

Lead torc worn around the neck of an Iron Age woman. Found during excavation of a rare human Iron Age burial.

Iron Age lead torc © NMAG
Iron Age lead torc
Iron Age Torc burial © Andy Chapman
Iron Age Torc burial

Made of lead, this Iron Age torc was found around the neck of a female skeleton buried at Great Houghton.

The torc is made of lead-tin alloy, perhaps intended to appear like silver. This suggests that the woman who wore it was highly respected within her community and given the torc as a sign of honour. However, her body was not treated with respect and was found face down, pressed tightly against the edge of the grave, with wrists together and knees bent, suggesting that she was bound. As burial of the dead was uncommon in the Iron Age, with most bodies being left to the elements, this grave likely held ritual significance, possibly a human sacrifice, with the torc intended to accompany her into the afterlife.

Number 17 of the objects selected for the A History of Northamptonshire in 100 Objects Exhibition 2025

Great Houghton
Contributed by NMAG

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